Are You a Procrastinator? Five Tips to Getting Unstuck and Moving
by Debra B. Taylor
The two rules of procrastination: 1) Do it today. 2) Tomorrow will be today tomorrow. —Vincent T. Foss
To procrastinate is “to put off doing something, or to postpone or delay needlessly”. There is a tendency to assume that we avoid doing the tasks that must be done because they are unpleasant or boring, or because we have poor time management skills or are lazy. And yet, often it is the tasks we most want to do that we put off, resulting in much internal stress and pressure. What’s going on?
Awareness is the first step. Think about your excuses for not accomplishing your goals. Everyone has his or her own pattern of procrastinating. Here are eight examples:
- Fear of change, rejection or failure
- Need to be perfect (I can’t do it perfectly so I won’t start)
- Lack of time
- Too much stress, pressure or anxiety which leads to paralysis
- Overwhelm on how to start (task is too big, don’t know how to do it, etc.)
- Self-doubt or lack of confidence
- Disorganization, indecision
- Other priorities, big (work/family crisis) and little (need to check email first!)
Do these excuses sound reasonable and logical? That’s often the case. The problem is that if you buy into the excuses, you don’t follow-through on the steps needed to achieve your goals. Procrastination can feel good in the moment, but then creates stress and pressure. It becomes a vicious cycle.
Take the Procrastination Quiz
How much do you procrastinate? Take the following quiz developed by time management experts Linda Sapadin and Jack Maguire*. Answer each question with a yes or no that best represents your behavior. Be honest!
- Do I put off taking care of important things that jeopardize my relationships, career, finances, or health?
- Do I put off doing what I need to do until a crisis develops?
- Do I put off doing tasks unless I can do them perfectly, or until I can find the perfect time to do them?
- Do I hesitate taking action that needs to be taken because I fear change?
- Do I think too much about things I’d like to do but rarely get around to doing?
- Do I think I’m special so don’t need to do all the things that other people need to do?
- Do I commit myself to so many things that I can’t find time for many of them?
- Do I tend to only what I WANT to do instead of what I SHOULD do?
- Do I tend to do only what I think I SHOULD do instead of what I WANT to do?
THE BAD NEWS: Answering yes to any of these questions indicates that procrastination is alive and working in your life.
THE GOOD NEWS: It’s possible to overcome procrastination! Picture being less stressed, getting more done and being more peaceful both at work and home. Imagine how much energy you’d gain from eliminating procrastination!
*Quiz from It’s About Time by Linda Sapadin and Jack Maguire, 119. New York, New York, Viking Adult City.
Overcoming Procrastination
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. —Walt Disney
Getting into action alleviates the stress of procrastination almost instantaneously.
Here are the five simple steps:
- Identify the task to be done
- Identify the first or next step to accomplish the task
- Commit to a time when you will begin the first step
- Be aware of your pattern of excuses
- BUT begin the first step in collaboration with the excuses
Don’t worry about eliminating all the excuses, those demons of inaction. Getting into action actually reduces the grip of the inertia and overwhelm of procrastination. It also can be helpful to have strategies and a support system to keep the excuses at bay. You’ll feel more confident and relaxed as you experience the success of reaching your goals. You gain momentum and if you begin the task again and again, you WILL ultimately achieve it.
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